Lee was in tears—something I'd never seen before. He's always been the rock, the one who never lets anything shake him, but this time, talking about his own brother, he was completely undone. I could barely speak, so I just stood up, pulled my chair, and hugged him tight. "It's okay, Lee," I whispered, holding him in a bear hug.
After a while he rubbed my arm reassuring me. After taking a long sip from his coffee mug—actually two long sips—then said softly, "I'm okay. I want to tell you the whole story, so let's get it done." He continued, "Both your father and I were shrieking. As they moved toward us to burn us next, I shouted, "What are you doing? Can't you give us a moment to explain what's going wrong? Why are you burning us?"
Then his grandmother shouted about something in Latin about betrayal: "You'd have killed us if you hadn't killed you. We killed our Child Aloha, because she betrayed the family and gave birth to this monster's children. We won't hurt the bastard—we don't hurt children—but you all must pay for your sins, you witch hunters."
Your father, with the last of his drained energy and icy tears, shouted back, "We are not witch‑hunters if you have powers. Check what kind of hunting we do. We hunt ghouls...we hunt other supernatural creatures that threaten mankind...Why would we go around hunting...Wiches...Someone whose very existence was unknown to us..till.today...That's not our family's motto. We don't associate with… whatever that is. Why would we harm you?"
He broke down, and sharted shouting, "Neil truly loved Aloha and now they have three kids...What will happen to them now...You have burned their parents and turned them orphans....you have burnt them in front of us.What kind of parents and grandparents are you?"
After taking few more sips from his coffee he started again, "Alhoa's family realised what a grave mistake they'd committed and it was too late to turn things around. They had committed it, and it was too late to fix. Soon they released us; they were devastated by the misjudgment that turned three children into orphans. They untied us and one of the witches, who was standing behind the tree where we were tied, collected the ashes of both Alhoa's and Neil's and stored them in a pot and took them inside the house. When things calmed, the oldest among them stepped forward and said that because they had committed a sin, the Coven would grant a boon: both your father and I would have children blessed with phoenix power. Since Neil's children were already born, they wouldn't have that power but if they ever face any kind of danger, then the Coven would always open there arms for them. They do not have the power to unturn things that's already been done. But the oldest witch gave some portions that would cure any kinds of injury as a apology to Aloha's children. That's what Ruby uses when you guys are injured. After their death, it became my responsibility to become their guardian."
Lee stood up. He headed to the coffee machine and started making a fresh batch for himself. He gestured if I wanted a cup and I shook my head.
With this newly shocking information I got from him. It would've been very difficult for me to gulp down hot coffee.
Taking the coffee mug towards the machine, he poured himself another warm cup of hot americano and took a sit in front of me.
Lee continued again without a pause, "And because neither you or your brother, were born, when this mishapp occured one of you inherited the power your father was blessed with that is the Phoenix Power. "
" But at that time, I was not aware what is this Phoenix power? Neither was Lila or
your father. I have been locking myself in the library and my office just to find out what this is all about.Few days back I learned about it. In folklore, the Phoenix is a rare, immortal bird that dies in flames and is reborn from its ashes, symbolizing renewal, resurrection, and the sun. The children being born with this power is like being born with the inhuman strength as a blessing — and not inherited. Their supernatural strength multiplies, and when they turn 18 the phoenix symbol triggers a reawakening, allowing them to cultivate their own strength. However, there's a catch: every power has its own curse, and since it wasn't given out of free will. Using the phoenix power too much can cause the user to burn in their own strength, turning them to ashes and pushing them toward destruction. That's why we fear losing you—because you were born with that phoenix power. We wanted to share this story so our children wouldn't have to face the same fate.Since you're one of the sole receivers of the power and you constantly use that power, so much so that every day you return home burnt out with your weird determination of killing all the goals. Which is next impossible!", he continued.
"Florida, you are trying to conquer the impossible. Even if not one, it takes at least six years to make the city clean, but you deny to listen to us. Do you have any idea how much power you're using? Everyday you just don't seem to listen, what would happen if too much use of that power burns you to ashes?"
"Will you able to find your answers, and if you die and unable to fulfill the promise you made to your brother before his death. Will you be able to fulfil that? I am your father as much as I am to the kids. So when I ask you to stop, you must. If you keep on disobeying and going gaga over this power you have no control of and with that your vampire thirst on the other hand..do you think I would sit back and keep shut!!"
I was going to interrupt, but he stopped me with his hand.
"After you have consumed Dalv's blood, I've seen how agitated you went. Which is why you go for hunting? Do you think I don't know that? I've also seen you taking medications. One of these fine days. I know that you would have to go to Dalve's house, since he mentioned that you need to visit him once you recover. He too was sure that you would be needing his help after you've consumed his blood. As he knew this was coming. That is why he made a point to make us understand that you are to visit him and since neither of us would be happy that you go to his place.You have started on medications!
Suddenly Lee started shouting, "It's already months since you have not visited. And I agree with you, but that doesn't mean that instead of finding solutions or calming yourself down, you would go to the library, find out solutions by yourself and start taking medications! I don't know from whom you got that medicines. But I a m confident that you must have got it from some weird vampire from Blush!"
I was too shocked to speak.How did Lee figure this out? Even the boys or Ruby is not aware of this. I was too cautious for them to find this out.
Ater that day, my thirst for blood grew every single day, so I've been battling out and channeling it out through fighting with the Ghouls.
But still, it was not sufficient.
One day I meet a vampire called Kyle in Blush, the bartender Nook who is my gay bff introduced me to him one day when I went alone and didn't took either of the boys with me after a hunt.
I was fuming. I became nervous. Small beads of sweats began to form on my forehead.
Taking so much information in one day is too much for me and on top of that Uncle has found out what I have been trying to hide from the past months; Lee discovering about the medicine was the final blow over my face.
I am screwed and this time very badly...